TV Gal Concerned About 'Grey's'

"Grey's" distinguished itself from the long-running hospital drama by focusing even more on the characters' personal lives. For instance, I don't recall underwear ever being posted on an "ER" message board.

But this three-part episode has me concerned, and I think the show has put itself in quite a pickle. The show is out of a couple permutations and keeps repeating the same storylines. How many times can Callie argue with George about how his friends need to accept her? How many times can Cristina be strange about being in a relationship? How boring are McDreamy and Meredith now that they are together?

I'm not a fan of the disaster story for disaster's sake. And while this three-part episode may address core character issues -- Meredith feeling lost, Isabel dealing with a dying patient and continuing to confront Denny's death, and George, who just lost a parent, dealing with a parent who may have lost a child -- it still smacks of a disaster movie. Unless they plan on changing the title of the show, Meredith will survive her fall into the water.

What do you think? Did you like the first episode of the three part "Grey's Anatomy"? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com and let me know.

Where Have I Seen Them Before?

Daniel and Jodie were the first to recognize Johnny Kastl, Doug on "Scrubs," was Eddie, the man printing religious pamphlets on "Veronica Mars."

Will caught Gail O'Grady as Judge Gloria Weldon on "Boston Legal." O'Grady was Helen on "American Dreams" and Donna Abandando on "NYPD Blue." We'll see her soon on the new CW drama "Hidden Palms."

All this week's bonus points go to Rachel, who recognized James C. Victor as the CTU agent assisting Jack at Graem's house on "24." Why do we care about this? Victor played Peter, the medical student Andrea had an affair with on "90210." So, of course, we care.

Keith recognized Robin Weigert, Calamity Jane on "Deadwood," as Juliet's sister on "Lost." Zeljko Ivanek, Elliott Dasher on "Shark," Ed Danvers on "Homicide," Andre Drazen on "24" (really what show hasn't this man been in), was Juliet's ex-husband on "Lost." Michelle recognized Nestor Carbonell was the man trying to recruit Juliet. He was Scotty's brother on "Cold Case," Luis on "Suddenly Susan," Jonas on "Strong Medicine," and Batmanuel on "The Tick."

So we all knew that was a very un-Dawson like James Van der Beek as the serial killer on the Super Bowl episodes of "Criminal Minds." But did you recognize his first two victims? Jamie Ray Newman is currently playing Mindy O'Dell on "Veronica Mars." She was also Natalie on "E-Ring" and Kylie on "Related." Todd Grinnell, Jason on "Four Kings," was her husband.

"Here's a not hypothetical. I'm really glad I'm with Karen." Jim after seeing Pam leave with Roy on "The Office."

"Why can't I ever be that happily ever after person? Why can't I just believe in that?" Meredith on "Grey's Anatomy." Have I told you my hair theory on Meredith? The better her hair, the less annoying her character.

"My name is Carson Drew, and this is my assistant, Nancy." Keith on "Veronica Mars." Thanks to Barry for the quote.

"It's like a healthy French fry that makes you mad." Nicole on "The Class" talking about carrot sticks. Thanks to Lilly for the quote. See you at the "The Class" support group Monday night.

"Well, actually, we're not quite in Portland." Jason to Juliet on "Lost."

"The scariest part of this whole thing is that you're a Bon Jovi fan." Dean to Sam on "Supernatural." Thanks to Barry for the quote.

"I heard from Scooter, who heard from Megan, who heard from Ceci, who heard from Nate, that Nate and Jennylee had kissed." Niels talking about other contestants who had hooked up on "Beauty and the Geek." Thanks to Janet for the quote.

"Don't get mad at me because you fell for the wookiee prisoner gag." Sawyer on "Lost." Ken was the first person to submit this very popular quote.

"I didn't pass out in a Mexican whorehouse again, did I?" Mrs. Meade to Betty after Betty's cell phone rings to the tune of La Cucaracha on "Ugly Betty." Thanks to Jeff for the quote.

Where Have I Seen That Before?

David, Joshua and Greg were the first to recognize that the license plate number of the car driven by Hiro's father on "Heroes" was NCC 1701, the registration number of the original USS Enterprise from "Star Trek." This is fun, of course, because Hiro's dad is played by George Takei, who was Sulu on "Star Trek."

Highlights of the Week AheadAll times listed are Eastern Time for Feb.12 to 18

Okay, first of all, I'm doubling down on Milo being this season's CTU traitor. Anyone want in on that action? Secondly, if I'm driving around LA after there's been a nearby nuclear explosion and, you know, terrorists are everywhere, I'm putting the roof up on my convertible. Just a little suggestion for Morris. And we've all talked about Jack's lack of need for water or food before, but TV Gal reader Dave and I are in complete agreement that when Jack first got to Graem's house he should have said something like, "Graem I totally don't trust you and think you're generally evil but would you mind making me a sandwich? And could I have a Coke?" This week in the two-hour episode of "24" (Monday, FOX, 8 p.m.), the Vice President and Thomas Lennox are up to some serious shenanigans.

I'll concede that "What About Brian" (Monday, ABC, 10 p.m.) still might not want to know what it wants to be when it grows up. It wrote its characters into corners, but then deftly extracted them from sticky situations. It was kind of ridiculous that Adam got married so quickly, but the return of Marjorie was handled perfectly: it set up both Brian and Adam to move on. And it was believable. How could Adam ever trust Marjorie again? Stacy Keibler begins her guest star stint this week as Brian's neighbor and next week Tiffani Thiessen joins the cast. She'll play Dave and Brian's new boss. My guess is that she'll also become a romantic possibility for Brian, and of course I'm all for that, but I'd also like to advocate for Krista Allen to remain on the show. Thanks in advance "What About Brian" for your consideration.

Right. So, as you know, I've been a strong supporter of "Studio 60" (Monday, NBC, 10 p.m.). Named it one of my Top 10 shows for 2006 blah, blah, blah. And I'm not willing to concede that I was terribly, terribly wrong quite yet but I will say I think the series has made a serious tactical error by focusing on the show's romantic couples. They haven't built up enough good will that we actually want Jordan and Danny and Matt and Harriet together. And the way Jordan behaved was so unbelievable. This man has been stuck on a roof proclaiming his love for her for hours and she slips him a note? Who does that? This week, "Studio 60" flashes back to when Harry met Matt and perhaps, just perhaps, that will make us root for them.

Can I have a whoo and a hoo? It is now safe to tune back in to "American Idol" (Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. on FOX) because Hollywood Week is here back and to paraphrase Randy Jackson, I'm feeling it dawg.

I'm telling you "Boston Legal" (Tuesday, ABC, 10 p.m.) is making it more and more difficult to be all in with the show. Alan is constantly in heat which frankly is getting a little tedious. And Denny Crane is constantly flirting with anything that moves (even Alan in a Shirley costume). It's getting a little old boys.

Here's my requisite plug for "Friday Night Lights" (Wednesday, NBC, 8 p.m.) Once again this stellar series is handling a challenging subject matter with deft and grace. There are no easy answers and "Friday Night Lights" doesn't pretend that there are.

It's quite apropos that on Valentine's Day, "Lost" (Wednesday, ABC, 10 p.m.) once again takes a peak at Desmond's back story and Desmond's one true love Penny Widmore.

That's all for today. I'll be back next week with thoughts on "Veronica Mars" (Logan is killing me with his sad puppy dog eyes), "Ugly Betty," "The Office," "Heroes," "American Idol" and much, much more. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.